The No.5 Florida Gators fell to No.8 Tennessee 64-44 on Saturday afternoon, dropping to 18-3 (5-3 SEC) on the 2024/25 season. Coming in off back-to-back losses and down two key starters in Zakai Zeigler and Igor Milicic Jr., the Volunteers came out with a level of intensity that Florida couldn’t match for 40 minutes.
Tennessee’s 2nd ranked defense made it as ugly as possible for the Gators, who scored a season low 21 halftime points and season low 44 points in the contest. Florida shot an abysmal 24.5% from the field and made just 4 of 27 three-point attempts (14.8%). Those shooting numbers are eerily similar to Tennessee’s from their first game against Florida earlier this season, where the Vols shot 21.0% from the field and 14.0% from three-point range in a 30-point loss in Gainesville.
Leading 24-21 at halftime, Tennessee made their first five shots of the second half and never looked back. The Vols shot 51.7% in the second half and made 4 of 9 three-point attempts.
Getting good looks was no easy task inside Food City Center, but even when the Gators found open shots, they weren’t falling. Florida’s dangerous guard duo of Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin shot a combined 5 for 25 from the field. Clayton Jr. rolled his ankle late in the first half and never looked the same in his 17 second half minutes. Senior guard Will Richard, who averages 13.6 points per game, took just two shots vs Tennessee and finished with two points.
Tennessee’s ability to close out and deny passing lanes caused Florida to turn it over 13 times in the contest, including eight in the first half. The Vols also out-rebounded Florida 40-37 and 12-10 on the offensive glass, which has been Florida’s path to victory this season, ranking 5th in the country on the offensive glass.
Senior guard Chaz Lanier led the way for UT, scoring 19 points on 6-14 shooting including 5-9 from three-point range. Junior guard Jordan Gainey added 16 points in his first start this season.
The victory for Tennessee marked their largest win over an AP top five team in program history. Florida lost their 8th straight road game in Knoxville.
Florida travels back to Gainesville to take on Vanderbilt at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.